Honours even at Roots Hall

League One play-off semi-final first leg ends 0-0

Last updated: 9th May 2008

James Walker Southend United Paul Green Doncaster Rovers

Walker and Green battle

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The League One play-off semi-final between Southend and Doncaster is finely-poised after honours finished even in the first leg at Roots Hall.

Neither side managed to break the deadlock but it was an entertaining contest with chances falling at both ends.

The best opportunity fell to Doncaster midfielder Jason Price midway through the second half, only for home goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan to pull off a fine block.

Rovers had striker Paul Heffernan sent off three minutes from time after a mindless headbutt on Charlie Mulgrew, but the visitors stood firm to stay level heading into their home leg.

Flapped

Rovers had an early scare when Sullivan flapped at Mulgrew's dangerous free-kick under pressure from Peter Clarke, before James Walker blazed over.

But Doncaster showed they had not come merely to take a draw back to south Yorkshire and James Coppinger forced a save from Flahavan with a low cross-shot and also fired wide from 25 yards.

Sullivan was called into action in the 20th minute when lively Shrimpers winger Mark Gower cut inside and drove towards the Scot's near post.

Rovers went close to breaking the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when Matthew Mills glanced a header inches past Flahavan's left-hand post from Gareth Roberts' free-kick.

Mills' momentum saw him collide with the right-hand post and the Rovers defender briefly required treatment.

Southend attacked with more urgency as the first half drew to a close with Sullivan doing well to hold onto Adam Barrett's header and Lee Barnard seeing a drive deflected wide.

And in stoppage time Francis looked odds on to fire the hosts ahead when he met Gower's cross, but the full-back's side-footed half-volley was kept out by Sullivan.

Slick

A slick passing move between Barnard and Tommy Black gave Walker a shooting opportunity after the break, but the on-loan Charlton youngster's curling effort flew wide.

At the other end Flahavan, playing his 350th game for Southend, helped Brian Stock's whipped free-kick over the crossbar.

Barnard almost raced clear onto a long clearance on the hour mark, only to be thwarted by a superb interception from James O'Connor.

Price's big moment arrived in the 65th minute when he was cleverly played in by Stock and one-one-one with Flahavan, he shot too close to the Shrimpers keeper, who was able to pull off a smart block.

Price almost made amends with an audacious volley from the edge of the area but Flahavan was alert to the danger.

Walker, Barnard and Nicky Bailey squandered shooting chances from the edge of the area before Heffernan's moment of madness, squaring up to Mulgrew and planting his head in the defender's face to earn a straight red card.

Southend laid siege to the Rovers goal in stoppage time and Barnard saw a header saved as the visitors held on.